Bioscanner

Bioscanning is a ability available to the Brynhild, Pawn, and Cobol starships. These ships can pick up native life (or lack thereof) and temperature on planets not already owned by the bioscanner's owner.

The range of bioscanning is the same as sensor sweep's range, which defaults to 200 lightyears.

The Brynhild and Cobol will lock onto and attempt to scan about 20% of the planets within range. The Pawn possess an advanced bioscanner, which is capable of scanning all planets within range. An example report is shown below from Planets 3.

<<< BIO SCANNER >>>
FROM: Brynhild scanner
ID # 146
Bio Scanners show
Reptilian
On : Cephei 198
Planet ID# 198
Sensors show
1013500 lifeforms
Climate = 23

Bioscanning does not tell you which race, if any, owns the planet. Twenty or more defense outposts will shield a planet from bioscanning.

The Evil Empire is able to fake bio scan reports: whatever type of natives are living on the planet, they will be reported as Amorphous. The amount of natives and the temperature will be reported correctly. However, this ability does not affect bioscanners belonging to the Rebels.

Bioscanning requires that the ship has at least 1kT of fuel, although no fuel is actually burned.